What's more important the photographer or the photographs?

If you think about how your wedding day will unfold, you'll realize that out of all the people you'll be spending time with, almost no one, including your soon to be spouse, will be with you more than the photographer.

Often when I'm contacted by a couple about my services, I often hear about how they like my photos, but later I've been told a big reason why a couple chose me, is that during our face to face meeting I made them feel very comfortable.

This is something that took me a year or two to realize, that it was part of the services I had to offer and not just my ability to dress well & smile.

In the past I've talked about important things to think about when choosing your location, ways to make sure your photographer has a the opportunity to get good photos and ways to get a good photographer if you're on a tight budget, but I've never actually talked about getting a photographer you'd like.

While I can't tell you what you should personally like in a photographer, I can tell you that no matter how good the portfolio, package prices or options offered, you should actually like the photographer you'll be working with as much as you like their products.

A few good examples of when having a likable photographer is nice are;
-when the bride and bridle party are getting dressed & ready
-in the extra small waiting rooms before the ceremony
-those intimate moments when the couple are alone, away from everybody after the ceremony
-and interacting with your guests

Still not quite sure what to look for in a photographer? Here are some good starting points.

1. Do they sound like they enjoy shooting weddings, or is this just a 9-5?

Wedding photography is a job, but while the responsibility of taking photos on one of the greatest days of a couples life is intense, if they're not into it, it will show up in the photos as well as possibly being disruptive the day of.

2. Do they talk about bad weddings & bridezillas more than happy brides & beautiful ceremonies?
I'll admit I've talked at length before about wedding mishaps and bridezillas, but I usually try to focus it on how a future couple can avoid pitfalls, as opposed to just an all out rant. Stories about how to make your wedding better are often a sign a photographer cares about your experience as much as your business.

3. Do you actually get to meet them and are they guaranteed to be your photographer?
Studios often have a sales person you meet with to discus packages, albums & prints. While you might have a choice based on portfolio, meeting the photographer is often a day of the ceremony occasion. Also, be sure to ask up front what your photographer's switching policies are? Even small independent photographers have been know to double book a date and substitute a second photographer or assistant photographer in place of themselves.
Above all, follow your gut and not your wallet. If you get a recommendation for a photographer, ask your friends about their personality as well as their professionalism.

www.VincentDavidJohnson.com

Just a Suggestion

As a professional in a field that I have worked in for over a decade. I'm fairly confident that when I give someone photo/wedding advice I know a little more than they do. I'm not trying to being arrogant, but I do go to almost two dozen weddings a year and I network with other vendors and get feedback from couples.

You don't always have to follow my, or other vendors advice, but you should at least take it with a grain of salt as you typically only get married once.

On occasion I see internet message boards that have posts from brides-to-be looking for services or having questions about planning their weddings. If I have time I'll send a quick answer or suggestion. I've helped couples from England to California. Often getting very pleasant replies for my advice.

However for whatever reason, when I give advice towards the aspect of photography I often get very rude replies, especially closer to home. Telling me to mind my own business, or how dare you tell me what a bride wants.

These are always set as suggestions like the ones in this blog
-the 3 Most Important Things You'll Choose
-Wedding photographer under $500

The fact of the matter is, it's a suggestion. Just some advice I'm giving you, you don't have to take it, sorry if it was unwanted, but it never hurts to get another opinion, even if you think I'm biased.

All wedding vendors have a wealth of knowledge and many will help you find reliable sources for other vendors, offer you advice outside of their area of service. They may or may not be trying to win your business over, however chances are they know a few things you don't and if it stops you from paying $15 for another bride magazine it just might be worth it for that.

www.VincentDavidJohnson.com

Spit your gum out

This will be one of the few posts I will do with no photo (as not to incriminate the brides who have done it), there are few things that will ruin a good photo the way chewing gum does.

I will say right off the bat I am not a gum person and I don't understand the need to constantly chew gum, but in general it doesn't bother me until it shows up in my photos.

When it comes to taking portraits many people stress about a a pimple, or blinking and while blinking can't be corrected it's usually a one off thing, only the worst acne outbreak isn't fixable in Photoshop, but gum on the other hand just makes your face do all sorts of weird things.

Talking is another one one that will ruin a posed photo, but unlike chewing gum it can often become part of a candid photo, making it more realistic.

So unless you're doing a cute bubble blowing photo. Spit the gum out.



(No brides have ever chewed gum during the ceremony. At least that I know of).

WANTED; Wedding photog, $500 or Less, Students Welcome Part 1

I don't read a lot of Wedding or Bridal Magazines. Ok, I don't read any, but I do know that there are articles on the topic of "Budget Weddings" & "Fantastic Weddings on a Shoe String Budget" and so on. With the current economic outlook, I'm sure their will be more of these popping up in magazines and web sites like theKnot.com.

In regards to photography though, somewhere the recent myth of the student photographer shooting a wedding took off, but unlike Unicorns, there are actually college students who take good weddings photos. But there is a huge difference from finding some one to shoot your wedding for cheap and finding someone to shoot it cheap and good. If you are one of those people looking for that, read this before making you post on Craig's List.

As a couple, the 3 most important things you will choose for your wedding in order are; The Dress, The location & The photographer. (see my previous blog post The 3 most Imporant Things). Those stories you've heard about someone having a student or a friend shoot their wedding and they got the most amazing pictures back... well they are real, but are few and far between.

If you want a great way to save a few bucks, start by not spending $15 each on a handful of magazines. Now before I get to far off topic, the reason of this post is about my arch enemy... The student photographer.

Well not really, I like student photographers and think any chance they can get for real world experience they should take it. I think a student photographer isn't something that every bride wants, as much as I think that paying a lot for a bad photographer is something every bride wants to avoid.

All to often people look at photography as something they themselves can do and in turn are astounded by the cost of hiring a professional. While most people under stand that taking 1 great photo out of 100 does not make them Ansel Adams, thinking someone who has a little bit of schooling will definitely be better at it than you is a sound thought, but thinking they may someday be the next Ansel Adams isn't exactly on the mark considering only 7% of people with a degree in the arts go on to make it a career.

First; Most people who've had luck with a student usually knew the photographer and were already impressed with their work before hand. If your cousin isn't studying photography at an art school, or you don't have a friend who's roommate freelances for the local paper, chances are you aren't one of the lucky few who can save money while still getting great results.

You should probably then be looking at getting a profession who's work you like and who's price you can afford.

Try getting someone who doesn't require an album to be purchased, or if you want to buy the digital copies of the photos, see if you have an option to buy them after the wedding. Try putting off as much as you can till after the wedding.

While most vendors will want some type of payment (becareful when vendors want full payment up front), deposits that aren't due at signing help in making a budget spread out.

But if you're still hell bent on going this route here are a few suggestions.

See Part 2